Lightning beat up on Original Six to reach Cup finals (Reuters)

By Tim Wharnsby The Tampa Bay Lightning have returned to the Stanley Cup final for the first time in 11 years with an entirely new cast and new-found confidence after beating the National Hockey League’s old guard along the way. Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis and Brad Richards helped the franchise win its only championship back in 2004, but there are no holdovers from that veteran-laden team. Tampa Bay has a new owner in Jeff Vinik, new general manager Steve Yzerman, a different coach in Jon Cooper and a totally changed roster awaiting the Western Conference champion Anaheim Ducks or Chicago Blackhawks.